This week has seen a surge in stylish SUV drag race battles, so let’s end on an exciting note! Today, we’re witnessing an old-school duel between three intriguing models on the tarmac shores of the Canadian wilderness: the new-age Kia EV9, the stoic Volvo XC90 T8, and the flashy Range Rover Velar. Who will emerge victorious down the 1/4-mile? Let’s find out.
First up is the blue new-born fully electric 2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD. It may not win any beauty contests, but its strengths lie beneath the surface. This AWD model boasts a dual-motor setup delivering a total of 379 hp (384 ps) with 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque.
Each motor churns out 189 hp (192 ps) with 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. Weighing in at 5,839 lbs. (2,648 kilograms), it comes with a price tag of $76,390. Alternatively, there are more affordable variants: the Land AWD at $71,395, the Wind AWD at $65,395, the Light Long Range RWD at $60,695, and the Light RWD at $56,395.
Next, we have the flashy Range Rover Velar P400. This British mild-hybrid is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbo and supercharged engine producing 395 hp (401 ps) and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque.
With all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission, it weighs 4,450 lbs. (2,018 kilograms). The Range Rover Velar Dynamic SE P400 Gas Mild Hybrid starts at $78,125, while the P250 Gas version costs $72,000, and the Range Rover Velar S P250 Gas starts at $62,775.
Finally, we have the safety expert, the Volvo XC90 T8 model. This fully white giant packs a powerful punch with its 2.0-liter inline-four twin-turbocharged engine delivering 312 hp (316 ps) with 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque.
The electric motor adds an extra 143 hp (145 ps) and 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) of torque, resulting in a total output of 455 hp (461 ps) and 523 lb-ft (709 Nm) of torque. It drives all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and weighs 5,194 lbs. (2,356 kilograms), priced around $76,000.
In the first race between the Volvo and the Velar, the XC90 emerged victorious, winning by a few car lengths. However, in the classic 1/4-mile drag race, the Volvo dominated the Range Rover twice. But when it came to facing the KIA EV9, the tables turned.
While the Volvo won both roll races, the KIA outperformed the XC90 in the drag races, winning by a significant margin. Despite the performance differences, considering they are similarly priced, who wouldn’t choose the more aesthetically pleasing Volvo over the Kia EV9?
